Democracy is about all the people and their development

Jan 17, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Ravi Dev continues his misrepresentations of my activism in furtherance of the agenda to oppress some section of this society and prevent Government from being held accountable under the laws of Guyana (Kaieteur News, “For an Effective Opposition”, January 10, 2010).
I will not stand for it. He wants Guyanese to believe his “position that democracy is strengthened when there is a periodic alternation of government” and for ‘good’ measure he throws in some figures to ‘condition’ those oppose to this government’s behaviours why they should confirm to his outlined strategy as they await their ‘win’ to govern. What he continues to refuse to accept and by extension doesn’t want people to accept is that the foundation of every modern society is built on the rule of law and the respect for the rights of all people.
It is this aversion that makes him utter the racist statement that Guyana would have reverted to mangrove if Indians did not come and his continued silence to the Government attacks on the rights of Africans. More recently he opted to ignore/justify the Government evident association with Roger Khan and its other acts of illegal and corrupt practices. Confronting this garrison behaviour would upset Dev’s ‘order’ of things. But confronted it must be!
In this multiracial society with established laws, people have to resist and confront any act destructive to this foundation. Democracy is about all the people and their development. It is a system of governance of the people by the people and for the people. It is not only about elections. Most importantly it includes the quality of governance between election cycles. And this is best served and “strengthened” when rights and laws are respected. In this environment all wins. There are countries that did/do not have ‘free and fair election’ and the quality of life is much better than ours because the people, including the government, respect laws and rights. There are those that have ‘free and fair election’ and there exit chaos and degeneracy, the consequence of disregarding the stated tenets.
Democracy as Dev wants us to see/accept it has no guarantee for respecting rights and laws. No one should have to wait until his/her representative holds the reign of government to have what’s constitutionally theirs. No governing group should think it can violate laws, oppress and exploit people, promote intolerance of others, and have people living in fear and social degradation. It is wrong and unacceptable.
These are the fundamental problems this country continues to confront with the tacit and expressed support of Dev, et al. He knows this, too, but hopes the hoax would be accepted or goes undetected.
Dev said I am “beating the drums of war” Rightly so. I beat the drums of war against racism, corruption, disrespect for laws and rights, poor security and poverty. My drums beat against the Government, who, as servant of the people feels that it is the master of the people and do not want to honour its oath to the people. I beat against ignorance that keeps a mind entrapped to dislike another because s/he looks different and speaks out for their rights.
That unquestioningly accept stories that a people is inherently evil and destructive to society and another group hence they have no place in the social order. I beat the drums against a government that abrogates its primary responsibility to the people which results in forced migration to other countries (sometimes as illegal immigrants and second-class citizens) for jobs and security as the country falls apart and the government sits on its hands boasting of remittances that contribute as much as 43% to the Gross Domestic Product. I beat against a government that steals billions of tax payers’ dollars and continues to hurt the people with its rapacious management that sees the country rank the most corrupt in the region and a poor human rights record. And I beat against the taking of taxpayers’ money then using it against them. Yes, I war against these tyrannical behaviours and beat my drums in accordance.
My rhythms are guided by the notes from the laws of Guyana, ILO Conventions and time- honoured principles. It’s a beat I invite every Guyanese to catch since it must be recognised and appreciated that no government, freely elected or otherwise, has the right to trample on rights and break laws which are the foundation of every decent society. ‘Free and fair’ election does not give anyone this liberty, neither does it mean those oppress or affected by the injustices and the government plundering of the nation’s resources should accept these criminal behaviours because the government was elected ‘free and fair.’ It’s a hoax, a farce and must end!
People deserve better and have a right to demand better and international conventions and the laws of Guyana offer them that guide and protection.
Lincoln Lewis

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